Etiquette Pictures, from the same creative minds that
launched Vinegar Syndrome two years ago, will unveil its unique line of film
restorations beginning on July 14 with the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack debut of
writer/director James B. Harris’ 1973 tale of the strange, Some Call it Loving.
Was it an acid trip that inspired this film? Perhaps.
Some of the eclectic elements included in Harris’ lyrical tale (an
adaptation of John Collier’s short story, “Sleeping Beauty” — 1938, Harper’s Bazaar) are a traveling freak
show, complete with a sleeping beauty (kisses for a buck), an eccentric (and
wealthy) jazz musician, a pair of dancing lesbian nuns, a secluded castle
(think: William Randolph Heart’s abode at San Simeon) and Richard Pryor. Hell of a mix.
The laconic Robert Troy (Zalman King), a wealthy, but lonely
jazz musician, happens upon a seedy traveling carnival, where one of the
attractions is “Sleeping Beauty,” a young woman named Jennifer (Tisa Farrow)
who has fallen into a deep sleep. For a
dollar, you can kiss her.
There is something very creepy about all that. First, the cleaning, feeding and care of
poor Jennifer — to keep her so pristine — leaves one wondering as to how much
abuse is heaped upon her when the paying customers have gone home for the day. Veteran
character actor Logan Ramsey (What's the Matter with Helen?, Busted,
etc.) is her “doctor” and the same gent that runs the carnival!
And secondly, speaking of paying customers, how unhygienic
is it for an endless parade of strangers to be planting long, leisurely, wet
kisses on this poor girl? UGH!
Our hero, Robert, buys her.
Is that even legal? Technically,
she is an “attraction,” so maybe there is some little loophole there about
buying and selling “attractions,” and the human being part is skipped over. It is a noble act, of course, on his part.
No matter, he takes her home to his ocean-view castle, where
Scarlett (Carol White — Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting, Poor
Cow, The Fixer, etc.), who appears to be the source of Robert’s
wealth, resides with her faithful servant and lover, Angelica (Veronica
Anderson).
Soon Jennifer awakes and Robert learns that beauty is,
indeed, only skin deep. Which is the
whole point of Collier’s short story.
As to Robert’s castle-mate, Scarlett, her fetishes appear to
be without bounds as diversions include dressing up with Angelica and
performing as tap-dancing nuns. With a
wide-awake Jennifer at hand, how soon before she too joins in?
And then there’s Jeff (played by Richard Pryor), who is a
Robert’s only real friend. His
character speaks volumes about how drugs are bad … how ironic.
Bonus features for Some Call it Loving include
commentary from director James B. Harris, outtakes with commentary and two
newly prepared interview sessions featuring Harris and cinematographer Mario
Tosi (Carrie, Sybil, MacArthur, etc.).
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